Saxon will be releasing a new album in called, Battering Ram, on October 16th in North America through UDR Music. Watch a video for the title track below.

On Battering Ram — with Biff Byford singing as well as he ever has, Paul Quinn and Doug Scarratt making full use of the term “shredding” with their guitars and the lock-steady rhythm of Nibbs Carter’s bass and Nigel Glockler’s drums — the future and the past crash together in an ear-scintillatingly engaging, raucous, melodic-yet-classically heavy ten-song collection which will instantly be hailed as a Saxon classic. The title track, with its delectable twin guitar assault heralding the album’s commencement, gives the listener an instant crack around the chops, whilst traditionalists will be delighted to hear such a perfect marriage of old, classic Saxon with the newer, fresher invective in such riff-fronted fare as “Destroyer” and “Stand Your Ground”, but there are still moments of space and exploration which fans will love.

“This one’s a natural progression from Sacrifice,” says Byford, “There’s a bit less rock ‘n’ roll and a bit more ‘heavy’ on it. We wanted to keep focused on a style rather than moving around too much.”

Lyrically, Battering Ram covers a variety of social situations, like the screaming fans who rage at the gig barriers (Battering Ram) or engaging in some good old fashioned myth (“The Devil’s Footprint” — a 200-year-old tale of people waking up in winter snowfall to see unexplained hoof prints which they followed, looking for an answer in vain).

“When I’m writing lyrics I like to switch back and forth between complex things, reality and rock’n’roll,” says Byford, “I thought the whole folklore behind ‘The Devil’s Footprint’ made it great material for a metal song, being that it’s both historic and mythical.

“With Queen of Hearts, I wanted to write something around Lewis Carroll’s Alice In Wonderland, and it’s about the chess game that happens in the story. I wanted it to have prog-feeling in the way of its ambiance and mood. Then you have songs like Destroyer and Hard And Fast which are ’80s-inspired songs with that modern slant on it. I’m a big fan of Marvel comics, and I wanted to write a song around the character Destroyer, and with Hard and Fast, it’s, as the title suggests, about driving fast! I do like to tie the lyric into the song, so if it’s going to be a song about driving fast, well, it has to be a fast, hard song!”

There is also the album’s closing cut, haunting, gripping, melancholic tale of the First World War, The Kingdom Of The Cross, where a poem unfurls the feelings and horrors which comprised this most brutal of global conflicts. “This year is the centenary of the end of the First World War. Nigel had a piece of music which he played on a synthesizer for a couple of years that I really liked. We had an actor (and singer), David Bower from the band HELL, read the poem and I sang the choruses. I didn’t want it to be typical SAXON, so it is just keyboards, bass, me and Dave.”

Battering Ram is available for pre-order now via iTunes, with Battering Ram as the instant great track.

Coming soon, Battering Ram will be available for pre-order via Amazon and various formats will include CD in ecolbook, 180 gram vinyl, limited edition boxset (containing CD, vinyl and a bonus CD with the band performance of their Denim & Leather tour Saxon Over Sweden 2011, featuring 18 tracks).

Battering Ram track listing:

1. Battering Ram
2. The Devil’s Footprint
3. Queen Of Hearts
4. Destroyer
5. Hard And Fast
6. Eye Of The Storm
7. Stand Your Ground
8. Top Of The World
9. To The End
10. Kingdom Of The Cross

Ted Nugent has weighed in on the killing of Cecil the lion, calling the story “a lie.”

US dentist Walter Palmer caused outrage when he shot and killed Zimbabwe’s most famous animal in what he believed was a legal hunt. But, Cecil was being monitored as part of an Oxford University study into lion conservation and was a major tourist attraction at the Hwange National Park – Zimbabwe’s largest game reserve.

Nugent, who is known for his pro-hunting stance, was drawn into the conversation on Facebook when he was asked for his thoughts on the incident.

He wrote, “The whole story is a lie. It was a wild lion from a ‘park’ where hunting is legal and essential beyond the park borders. All animals reproduce every year and would run out of room/food to live without hunting. I will write a full piece on this joke ASAP. God are people stupid.”

Palmer and his guides reportedly lured Cecil from the park before Palmer shot the beast with a bow and arrow. They then caught up with the injured lion 40 hours later where it was shot with a rifle and beheaded.

Palmer said he regretted his actions but maintains he had no idea the lion was a local favorite.

Former Guns N’ Roses drummer Matt Sorum called Nugent a “sick individual” last year when the guitarist posed with a picture of a dead groundhog.

He added, “Every time you make a record it’s the best you’ve ever made. This one, without a doubt, is the best record we’ve ever made. Sonically it’s brilliant. The compositions of the songs are fantastic.”

To read more about this release, and to view the track listing, please click here.

Joel Hoekstra announces the release of his new melodic hard rock studio album Dying To Live from his electrifying new side project, Joel Hoekstra’s 13. Hoekstra is best known to millions of rock fans as the currrent guitarist for Whitesnake, and also known for his work with Night Ranger, Trans Siberian Orchestra and the show Rock of Ages.

Dying To Live features an all-star cast of rockers including Jeff Scott Soto (vocals), Russell Allen (vocals), Tony Franklin (bass), Vinny Appice (drums), and Derek Sherinian (keyboards), and and will be available via Frontiers Music SRL on Friday, October 16th.

Hoekstra took charge of the creative process by handling the production, song writing and arranging (music and lyrics). The end result could best be described as hard, melodic, classic rock that is Dio’ish at its heaviest and Foreigner’ish at its lightest.

“Years ago, I released three solo albums that were mainly instrumental guitar music. I wanted to put something out that showcased my production, writing and playing in the genre that I’m known for, which is melodic, hard rock, explains Hoekstra. That’s when I decided to start what I consider to be my rock side project, Joel Hoekstra’s 13.” Dying To Live focuses on struggles, potential pitfalls and the art of overcoming obstacles in life to finally arrive where we are meant to be.

Dying To Live was conceived before Hoekstra joined Whitesnake. David Coverdale gave the album his full blessing. “David wants his players to spread their wings and fly and of course be ready to rock when Whitesnake needs them, which obviously won’t be an issue.”

Excited how the new album turned out, Hoekstra is looking forward to the overall reaction from fans and media. “I hope everyone will give it a listen. I feel it showcases my production, writing and playing in essentially the same genre – The line-up of musicians is stellar! I want to thank everyone for any support in advance. Life is good!”

Watch an electronic press kit below.

Dying To Live track listing:

1. Say Goodbye To The Sun
2. Anymore
3. Until I Left You
4. Long For The Days
5. Scream
6. Never Say Never
7. Changes
8. The Only Way To Go
9. Dying To Live
10. Start Again
11. What We Believe
12. Kill or Be Killed (Bonus Track digital download)

Due to the overwhelming success of Judas Priest’s 17th studio effort overall, Redeemer of Souls (which became the highest-charting album of their career, when it debuted on the Billboard 200 charts at #6), the band has announced a fall tour, which will hit the U.S. and Canada, from October 16th through November 12th. Supporting Priest on the U.S. dates and the Halifax engagement will be one of modern metal’s top bands, Mastodon.

Redeemer of Souls also went on to become one of the most critically acclaimed releases of the band’s career, with Rolling Stone stating, “Above all, Redeemer is proof that Priest can still call themselves metal’s defenders of the faith,” while Revolver Magazine offered further praise, “Thus rejuvenated and recharged, the Metal Gods have delivered their strongest record in over a decade.”

Guns N’ Roses guitarist D.J. Ashba has made the following announcement:

“Six years ago, I received a call that changed my life forever. The call was from a dear friend of mine (Katie McNeil-Diamond) who was working with Guns N’ Roses. It was an offer to audition for Axl Rose and earn a role in arguably the biggest rock band of my time. While I thought it was a complete long shot, I decided to go ahead and give it a try. Much to my shock and surprise, I got the gig. And so began the most incredible journey I could have possibly imagined. I was blessed with the opportunity to not only work with one of the most talented bands, but also to share the stage with a living legend and a truly gifted human being, Axl Rose. The amount of confidence and trust that Axl placed in me was genuinely heartwarming and truly career-defining. In the years that followed, I traveled the world many times over and played these incredible songs night after night to the most enthusiastic and loving crowds. As you can imagine, the friendships that were forged during that time were deep and long lasting. But the most beautiful surprise of all was YOU… the fans. You welcomed me into your lives with open arms and showed me love and support that I could only have dreamed of. From the very first time I stepped on stage and started playing Welcome To The Jungle and felt the crowd erupt, I knew my life would never be the same. I’m not gonna lie…I was terrified!! But you were so accepting. You immediately turned my fear into pride. For that, I am truly grateful.

So now it is with a very heavy heart and yet great pride that I announce that I’ve decided to close this chapter of my life and encapsulate the wonderful times that I’ve shared with GUNS N’ ROSES into fond memories. I have reached a point in my life where I feel its time to dedicate myself to my band Sixx: A.M., my adoring wife and family, and to the many new adventures that the future holds for me.

….As I sit here writing this letter, I want to take a moment to thank Axl from the bottom of my heart for not only the most incredible experience of my life, but for truly believing in me. You are a true friend and a champion of mine and I am forever grateful. And even as I move on to pursue other endeavors, I will always remain one of your biggest fans. I also would like to thank each and every one of you fans for your love and support throughout the years. Without you, I am nothing. Please know that I do not take one minute of this amazing life for granted.

I hope that you all join me as I forge ahead. Let’s conquer the world together!”

Ashba joined Guns N’ Roses in March 2009 following the departure of guitarist Robin Finck.

Buckcherry have released a video for the song The Madness from their forthcoming new album, Rock N’Roll, which is due for release on August 21st through F-Bomb records. Watch the video below.

Frontman Josh Todd tells Billboard,“I struggle with two sides of my mind. There’s the side that wants to be really bad and the side that really wants to be good, and this is a constant battle with me. So that’s what The Madness is about, and I just felt like the chorus came together really well.”

Rock ’N’ Roll will be their first release on the band’s F-Bomb Records. Todd reports that being on their own label has given them the opportunity to be more creative than on previous albums.

He says, “Over the years being on several different labels, we’ve been pushed and pulled and told so many different things. And whenever we stick to our guns and do what feels right to ourselves and to the honesty of Buckcherry, then everything works out.”

Last week, Todd revealed that the song Tight Pants was influenced by Aerosmith. To read more about, and to see the album track list, please click here.

Musical evolution comes at various points throughout a band’s career, even those who have been creating music for over 18 years together. Sevendust are the living embodiment of this fact and their new album Kill The Flaw is the next step forward. Kill The Flaw is the band’s 11th studio album and is slated for release on October 2nd via 7Bros. Records with ADA/Warner Brothers Distribution. Sevendust is comprised of iconic vocalist Lajon Witherspoon, the dual-guitar attack of John Connolly and Clint Lowery, and the driving rhythm section of Vince Hornsby on bass and Morgan Rose on drums. Kill The Flaw was self-produced by Sevendust and recorded at Architekt Music in Butler, New Jersey with engineer/mixer Mike Ferretti.

“We took some time off from the heavy side of Sevendust and when it came time to record some new music; Clint, John, Vinnie, Morgan and I put everything we had in to what became Kill The Flaw,” states vocalist Lajon Witherspoon. “We love this new music and we can’t wait to share it with our amazing Sevendust family! God bless y’all!!!”

The album opener and first single Thank You shows that Sevendust is back and better than ever. The song can be heard below.

as well as streaming partners like Spotify and Apple Music. Tracks like Death Dance, Cease and Desist and Not Today exemplify the growth of the band as songwriters. Throughout the album, the musical development flourishes while never losing the signature sound that has garnered the band fans worldwide. Kill The Flaw is available for digital pre-order at Tunes. Fans who order the album will receive an instant download of the first single, “Thank You.” The physical CD is available for pre-order in various bundles through Sevendust.com.

Sevendust was recently announced as direct support on the upcoming Godsmack tour. The tour begins September 23rd in Detroit, MI and will run throughout October where it wraps on October 19th in Ottawa, ON. The tour will be making stops in Kansas City, Huntsville and Poughkeepsie to name a few. Sevendust is also playing at the Food Truck & Rock Carnival on September 19th in Clark, NJ; the Louder Than Life festival in Louisville, KY and the Monster Energy Aftershock Festival in Elverta, CA. They are also playing with Breaking Benjamin on September 18th in PA.